In order to comprehensively understand the influence of coordination of the substituent at 2-position with those at 3- and 6-positions on the properties of chitosan derivatives, a series of chitosan 3,6-bis(arylcarbamate)-2-(amide)s (CACAs) and the related chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were prepared and reported in the present study. Specifically, chitosan was N-acylated with carboxylic acid anhydrides, and then further derivatized with various aryl isocyanates to afford CACAs, from which a class of coated-type CSPs were prepared...

Although encountered in minor amounts in plant cells, very-long-chain fatty acids exert crucial functions in developmental processes. When their levels are perturbed by means of genetic approaches, marked phenotypic consequences that range from severe growth retardation to embryo lethality was indeed reported. More recently, a growing body of findings has also accumulated that points to a potential role for these lipids as signals in governing both biotic and abiotic stress outcomes. In the present work, we discuss the latter theory and explore the ins and outs of very-long-chain fatty acid-based signaling in response to stress, with an attempt to reconcile two supposedly antagonistic parameters: the insoluble nature of fatty acids and their signaling function...

BACKGROUND: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are used in patients with splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) and cirrhosis, but evidence for safety and efficacy in this setting is limited. Our aim was to identify indications and reasons for starting or switching to DOACs and to report adverse effects, complications and short-term outcome. METHODS: Data collection including demographic information, laboratory values, treatment and complications through the VALDIG Consortium...

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel-based chemotherapy is effective in metastatic gastric and gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, but has not yet been evaluated in the context of resectable patients. Here we report findings from the phase 2 part of the phase 2/3 FLOT4 trial, which compared histopathological regression in patients treated with a docetaxel-based triplet chemotherapy versus an anthracycline-based triplet chemotherapy before surgical resection. METHODS: In this randomised, open-label, phase 2/3 study, eligible participants were recruited from 28 German oncology centres...

The association between psoriasis vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid is due to the still unclear autoimmune process. The common disease site is the dermo-epidermal junction or basal membrane zone (BMZ), with specific alterations for both diseases. Photochemotherapy (PUVA) is one of the therapeutic modalities for psoriasis and can trigger production of autoantibodies against antigens in the BMZ in patients with subclinical bullous pemphigoid. Furthermore, PUVA therapy can alter the immunological milieu and hence can contribute to the expression of bullous pemphigoid in patients with psoriasis...

Increased secretion of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in acromegaly has various effects on multiple organs. However, the ocular effects of acromegaly have yet to be investigated in detail. The aim of the present study was to compare retina ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFL) between patients with acromegaly and healthy control subjects using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). This cross-sectional, comparative study included 18 patients with acromegaly and 20 control subjects...

The phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives, collectively referred to as jasmonates, regulate many developmental processes, but are also involved in response to numerous abiotic/biotic stresses. Thus far, powerful reverse genetic strategies employing perception, signaling or biosynthesis mutants have broadly contributed to our understanding of JA implication in plant stress response and development; so did the chemical gain-of-function approach based on exogenous application of the hormone. However, there is currently no method that allows for in planta tightly controlled JA production...

Cryptogein is a 10 kDa-protein secreted by the oomycete Phytophthora cryptogea that activates defence mechanisms in tobacco plants. Among early signalling events triggered by this microbial-associated molecular pattern is a transient apoplastic oxidative burst which is dependent on the NADPH oxidase activity of the RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG (RBOH) isoform D. Using radioactive [(33) P]-orthophosphate labelling of tobacco Bright Yellow-2 suspension cells, we here provide in vivo evidence for a rapid accumulation of phosphatidic acid (PA) in response to cryptogein due to the coordinated onset of phosphoinositide-dependent phospholipase C and diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) activities...

What are the most abundant sphingolipids on earth? The answer is Glycosyl Inositol Phosphoryl Ceramides (GIPCs) present in fungi and the green lineage. In this review, we discuss the putative role of plant GIPCs in the lipid bilayer asymmetry, in the lateral organization of membrane rafts and in the very long chain fatty acid inter-leaflet coupling of lipids in the plant plasma membrane (PM). A special focus on the structural similarities -and putative functions- of GIPCs is discussed by comparison with animal gangliosides, structural homologs of plant GIPCs...

Recent developments have expanded the frontier of interventional endoscopy toward more extended resections following surgical principles. This article presents two new device-assisted techniques for endoscopic full-thickness resection in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. Both methods are nonexposure techniques avoiding exposure of gastrointestinal contents to the peritoneal cavity by a "close first-cut later" principle. The full-thickness resection device is a novel over-the-scope device designed for clip-assisted full-thickness resection of colorectal lesions...

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation is a life-threatening complication that arises very rarely in routine endoscopic procedures, with an incidence of 0.03-0.8%. It is more likely in highly complex and invasive therapeutic interventions. In certain situations, endoscopic closure of the perforation and treatment with antibiotics can obviate the need for emergency surgical repair. METHODS: This review is based on pertinent articles retrieved by a selective literature search in PubMed and on a relevant position paper...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with psoriasis using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and to determine its relationship with psoriasis activity indices. In this prospective study, EDI-OCT images were obtained in consecutive patients with psoriasis and in age-gender-matched healthy individuals. Comprehensive ophthalmic examination and EDI-OCT evaluation were performed. CT was measured in the subfoveal area. Correlation analyses were performed to identify the relationship of the CT with disease duration and clinical disease activity score...

BACKGROUND: The Ca(2+)/Cation Antiporter (CaCA) superfamily is an ancient and widespread family of ion-coupled cation transporters found in nearly all kingdoms of life. In animals, K(+)-dependent and K(+)-indendent Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers (NCKX and NCX) are important CaCA members. Recently it was proposed that all rice and Arabidopsis CaCA proteins should be classified as NCX proteins. Here we performed phylogenetic analysis of CaCA genes and protein structure homology modelling to further characterise members of this transporter superfamily...

Electrospinning is a complex process that produces fibers with diameters on the micrometer or nano-scale from an electrified jet of a polymer solution. The objective of this study was to create electrospun fibers for food use from aqueous solutions of calcium (CaCAS) or sodium caseinate (NaCAS). Fibers were not formed from electrospinning of solutions of either caseinate (CAS) at 50 °C, but were formed from blends of either CAS solution with aqueous solutions of the food-grade polysaccharide, pullulan (PUL), when using mass ratios from 2:1 to 1:4 of PUL/CAS...

The Solute Carrier Family 24 (SLC24) belongs to the CaCA super family of Ca(2+)/cation antiporters and codes for five different K(+)- dependent Na(+)- Ca(2+) exchangers (NCKX1-5). NCKX proteins play a critical role in Ca(2+) homeostasis in a wide variety of biological processes such as vision, olfaction, enamel formation, Melanocortin-4-receptor-dependent satiety and skin pigmentation. NCKX transcripts are widely found throughout the brain. In this study we examine the differences between NCKX1-4 in terms of cation dependencies...

In plant cell, cations gradient in cellular compartments is maintained by synergistic action of various exchangers, pumps and channels. The Arabidopsis exchanger family members (AtCCX3 and AtCCX5) were previously studied and belong to CaCA (calcium cation exchangers) superfamily while none of the rice CCXs has been functionally characterized for their cation transport activities till date. Rice genome encode four CCXs and only OsCCX2 transcript showed differential expression under abiotic stresses and Ca(2+) starvation conditions...

The recently available guidelines on the management of advanced breast cancer (ABC) organized by Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, Committee of Breast Cancer Society (CACA-CBCS) do not elucidate ABC in details. To instruct clinicians in treatment of ABC, a Chinese expert consensus meeting on diagnosis and treatment of ABC was held in June 2014 and a consensus is developed. The following consensus provides the level of evidence and supporting documents for each recommendation, and introduces research topics to be urgently addressed...

We report on two patients with recurrent episodes of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO). A 50-year-old woman with severe multiple sclerosis and an 84-year-old man with Parkinson's disease and dementia had multiple hospital admissions because of pain and distended abdomen. Radiographic and endoscopic findings showed massive dilation of the colon without any evidence of obstruction. Conservative management resolved symptoms only for a short period of time. As these patients were poor candidates for any surgical treatment we carried out percutaneous endoscopic colostomy by placing a 20-Fr tube in the cecum with the introducer method...